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Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Measuring the Rate of Lipolysis in Ex Vivo Murine Adipose Tissue and Primary Preadipocytes Differentiated In Vitro
Published on: March 17, 2023
Adiponectin reduces plasma triglyceride by increasing VLDL triglyceride catabolism
Liping Qiao1, Chenhui Zou, Deneys R van der Westhuyzen
1Graduate Center for Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Objective:
Adiponectin is an adipocyte-derived hormone that plays an important role in glucose and lipid metabolism. The main aims of this study are to investigate the effects of adiponectin on VLDL triglyceride (VLDL-TG) metabolism and the underlying mechanism.
Research Design And Methods:
Adenoviruses were used to generate a mouse model with elevated circulating adiponectin. HepG2 and C2C12 cells were treated with recombinant human adiponectin.
Results:
Three days after Ad-mACRP30 adenovirus injection, plasma adiponectin protein levels were increased 12-fold. All three main multimeric adiponectin molecules were proportionally elevated. Fasting plasma TG levels were significantly decreased (approximately 40%) in the mice with elevated adiponectin in circulation, as were the plasma levels of large and medium VLDL subclasses. Although apolipoprotein B mRNA levels were robustly suppressed in the livers of adiponectin-overexpressing mice and in cultured HepG2 cells treated with recombinant human adiponectin, hepatic VLDL-TG secretion rates were not altered by elevated plasma adiponectin. However, Ad-mACRP30-treated mice exhibited a significant increase of postheparin plasma lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity compared with mice that received control viral vector. Skeletal muscle LPL activity and mRNA levels of LPL and VLDL receptor (VLDLr) were also increased in Ad-mACRP30-treated mice. Recombinant human adiponectin treatment increased LPL and VLDLr mRNA levels in differentiated C1C12 myotubes.
Conclusions:
These results suggest that adiponectin decreases plasma TG levels by increasing skeletal muscle LPL and VLDLr expression and consequently VLDL-TG catabolism.
Insights
Adiponectin lowers plasma triglyceride levels by enhancing skeletal muscle lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and VLDL receptor (VLDLr) expression, thereby increasing VLDL-triglyceride (VLDL-TG) breakdown.
Area of Science:
- Metabolic research
- Endocrinology
- Lipid metabolism
Background:
- Adiponectin, an adipocyte-derived hormone, is crucial for glucose and lipid metabolism.
- Understanding adiponectin's role in very-low-density lipoprotein triglyceride (VLDL-TG) metabolism is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of adiponectin on VLDL-TG metabolism.
- To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of adiponectin's action on VLDL-TG.
Main Methods:
- A mouse model with elevated adiponectin was generated using adenoviruses.
- HepG2 and C2C12 cells were treated with recombinant human adiponectin.
Main Results:
- Elevated plasma adiponectin significantly decreased fasting plasma TG levels and VLDL subclasses in mice.
- Adiponectin increased postheparin plasma lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity and skeletal muscle LPL and VLDL receptor (VLDLr) expression.
- Hepatic VLDL-TG secretion rates were not altered, indicating a post-transcriptional mechanism.
Conclusions:
- Adiponectin reduces plasma TG levels by upregulating skeletal muscle LPL and VLDLr.
- This leads to increased VLDL-TG catabolism, offering a potential therapeutic target for dyslipidemia.
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